Bolsonaro starts with a disadvantage of between 10 and 15 points with respect to Lula, according to the polls
The absence of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and criticism of President Jair Bolsonaro were the focus this Saturday the second electoral debate between the presidential candidates ahead of the October 2 elections in Brazil.
Bolsonaro and five other candidates with minimal options for the Presidency participated in an insipid televised debate marked by the non-appearance of Lulaleader of all the polls and whose pulpit was empty during the little more than two hours of discussions.
The progressive former head of state, who this Saturday led two campaign events in the city of Sao Paulo, alleged scheduling problems and lack of time, which earned him harsh criticism from his opponents, some of whom called him a “coward”.
Bolsonaro compared to Pinocchio
Bolsonaro, second favourite, but with a disadvantage of between 10 and 15 points with respect to Lula, according to the pollswas the other great victim of the night, despite parking his most incendiary profile and maintaining a somewhat more moderate tone.
As in the first debate, lThe toughest with the far-right leader was Simone Tebet, of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB, center right). In her first intervention, the senator, who barely has 5% of the voting intentions, went all out and accused Bolsonaro of “despising” women.
Also He called him “insensitive” for “not respecting the pain of families” during the pandemic, which has left nearly 700,000 dead in the country, and for minimizing the data on poverty.
“He doesn’t work, he just rides a motorcycle, a jet ski, saying that no one goes hungry. We have a president who believes fake news and that hate is disputed”, he aimed for minutes later to call him “pinocchio” for “blatantly lying”.
Labor Ciro Gomes, third favorite with 7% of support, also hit the retired Army captain: “Bolsonaro has surrendered to the corruption“. Although Lula’s former minister did not spare criticism of his former ally, who was disgraced by his absence from the debate.
“He didn’t come because he is unable to explain his promises or the allegations of corruption” that dotted his mandates (2003-2010), he stressed.
Bolsonaro appeals to the poorest electorate
For his part, the far-right leader tried defend itself by highlighting its questionable management and denying any accusation of corruption in his cabinet, despite the suspicions raised in the offices of Health and Education.
“My government was the one that placed the most machotes (accused of gender-based violence) in jail, was the one who cared the most for the poor. I tell everyone that our economy is doing very well,” Bolsonaro said in an appeal to the female electorate and the poorest, who mostly support Lula.
“This government has a special look towards the most needy”he reiterated.
To try to reduce this difference with Lula, the president also He attacked his greatest rival directly, whom he called a “thief” again and insisted on linking him with the president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, saying that they are “close friends.”
All polls published to date they attribute to Lula between 40% and 45% of the voting intentionscompared to the 30% that Bolsonaro would obtain, and even some polls predict the victory of the candidate of the Workers’ Party (PT) in the first round.
Father Kelmon, the only ally of Bolsonaro
The sauce of the debate was provided by Father Kelmon, an Orthodox religious candidate for the right-wing Brazilian Labor Party (PTB) and that, at times, he spoke for Bolsonaro by adopting his most radical speech of frontal rejection of abortion and demonization of the left.
“I want to ask Christian Brazilians not to allow the return of the left to power. We don’t need to suffer what neighboring countries suffer. Look at Venezuela, destroyed by the left; Nicaragua, persecuting the religious Together we can take this country on safer paths away from this damned left!” Kelmon said, using the same examples that Bolsonaro is accustomed to using.
A third and final debate will be held next Thursday before the first round of the elections on October 2, which Lula does plan to attend and which will be broadcast on the Globo network, the media outlet with the highest incidence in the country.